According to data from the air quality monitoring station located at Marathon Chowk, Teen Haath Naka, levels of particulate matter (PM10) — soot and dust particles smaller than 10 microns in size which can be inhaled into the body causing respiratory ailments — more than four times the permissible limits.
On February 23, PM10 levels were 426 microgrammes per cubic metre (ug/m3) as against a safety limit of 100ug/m3. The station started collecting data from February 11 and citizens will be able to access the data by month-end. System for Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) began their real-time pollution monitoring at 10 locations in the city from June.
“We observed that the major source of air pollution in Thane is from vehicles, followed by construction. There are four pollutants that are being measured — PM10, oxides of nitrogen (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3). We get real-time updates every hour of the rise and fall of pollutants and at the end of the day, a 24-hour average of the four pollutants establishes the pollution level for the day,” said Manisha Pradhan, pollution control officer, TMC.
